I realize that I am taking the risk of sounding like a psychopath in writing this, but what the heck, here goes … I visited 12 preschool facilities last year in the hunt to find the “perfect” place for my 3-year-old, Hope, to learn, play, and grow. I don’t know whether it is the teacher in me or the selfish mom that doesn’t want to give up precious moments, but either way, the time has come and off she goes.

    Preschool can be easy. It really is a fun place for your tot to branch out, and man, that tackle hug when you pick them up is worth about a billion bucks. Nancy Hanson and Phyllis Meier have been co-directing St. John’s Christian Preschool for the last nine years, and they lent some great advice on how to ease the anxieties of children and their parents, and how to know when your child is ready for a more structured learning environment.

    First of all, let’s think about the child. Sometimes parents drop off their little one and when they come to pick them up, they don’t want to go home. Other times, parents can’t quite get their darling to enter the room. Most kids don’t have too much trouble, but the best thing, according to Meier, that a parent can do is “create a ritual.” Have two or three things that you do consistently prior to leaving. She suggests calling something out like, “Here’s your off-to-preschool kiss.”

    You could also try washing up and brushing teeth every time prior to leaving. Children find security in knowing what comes next. Doing this will help your child focus and ready them for the next step. Once they are in the car, Meier says, you can help them by asking what they plan to do first once they are at school. Hanson adds that, “Talking too much makes kids’ nervous. It just depends on the child and as a parent you know.”